How challenging is AP Computer Science compared to other APs?

Hey guys! I want to pick courses for next year, and I’m trying to figure out how tough AP Computer Science is. Some people say it's one of the easier APs, but I want to hear from someone who's actually taken the course. Thoughts?

Hey there! My kid took AP Computer Science last year, and from what I gathered, it really can vary based on your familiarity with programming. If you've had some experience coding before, even just a little bit, it might be easier for you to grasp the concepts. Those with no background might find the initial learning curve a bit steep.

Unlike AP History or English classes, there's a more definitive set of skills you'll need to acquire as opposed to retention of knowledge, so part of the difficulty depends on your learning style. Like all AP classes, there's a sizable workload and you'll have to stay on top of the assignments to do well. The AP exam itself is quite fair if you understand the material.

My child had some coding experience from a club at school, so they found the class to be a middling difficulty – not a breeze, but not the hardest AP they took. They did emphasize that practice was key, particularly with the coding projects. So, if you're someone who enjoys problem-solving and logical thinking, and you're prepared to put in consistent work, you could find AP Computer Science quite manageable!